All plants require microbial partners in soil for nutrient exchange via their roots. Fungi and bacteria play extremely important roles in providing water, phosphorous, nitrogen, and sulfur among other things that plants depend upon for growth and reproduction. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid threatens forest stability in GSMNP by killing and weakening stands of Eastern Hemlock. Examination of microbial communities inhabiting hemlock rhizospheres will help us determine which species are most important to the health of the plant and microbial stocks could be kept in case hemlock reforestation is necessary. This project will describe species of bacteria that are the most common in hemlock roots systems – environments that have never been explored in this way – and tie metabolic functions of the bacteria to their host. Dozens of new species records will be generated and information made available in publications and online databases and websites. 

Family Count Graph: FamilyCountAcGraph.pdf

Species Report: Taxonomy.pdf

Upper Taxa List: UpperTaxa.pdf

Principal Investigator

PI Name:  Dr. Seán O’Connell

PI Organization:  Western Carolina University